Qaddafi and Two Sons Rumored To Have Fled Libya

[cali]

Ujala Sehgal 4:38 PM ET 2,433 Views Comment

Tension have been mounting in Libya today, with rebel forces encircling Tripoli, causing Qaddafi to lose his grip, according to the New York Times. "By Saturday afternoon, the rebels had driven Colonel Qaddafi’s forces out of the strategic oil refinery town of Zawiyah, 30 miles west of Tripoli. After a week of heavy fighting there, residents began to celebrate in the main square." Although, in Tripoli, still a Qaddafi stronghold, government officials "continued to insist that they would fight to the end," the Times wrote that "rumors swept Libya that was preparing to flee, if he had not already."

Now the rumors are turning into unconfirmed reports. NBC New Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel tweeted: "BREAKING: Libyan TV reporting Qaddafi has fled with two sons." He added: "odd no reports of seif having fled, only hanibam was moatasim," in reference to his sons. Other reports on Twitter are that Qaddafi left "aboard a private aircraft with two of his sons." One source also indicated that Al-Jazeera wrote that Qaddafi "reportedly" left for Italy, although there is no mention of this on its Libya liveblog yet (only that a top Qaddafi aide fled to Italy). Reports of Qaddafi's departure are still unconfirmed. More recently, Engel tweeted that "Rebels themselves don't know if reports of qaddafi's departure are true. 'we hope' they say..."

News of the intensity in Libya continues to come in from all news sources. CNN reports that rebels have in fact entered Tripoli, with heavy clashes, intense gunfire, and explosions. (Although Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim told state television: "All of Tripoli is safe and stable.") Reuters tweeted "Tripoli residents receive text messages urging them to 'go out into streets to eliminate agents with weapons," says resident."

Update: A top rebel commander in the west can NOT confirm Qaddafi has left, according to Engel.

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http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011/08/report-qaddafi-and-two-sons-have-fled-libya/41523/

[lob1]

1. Are they sure Qaddafi left? Or was it Kadaffi, or Gadaffi

or Godaffy or Godawful?

[pinboy3niner]

3. You never know...

http://www.spelldictator.com/

:rofl:

[lob1]

16. Neat link. Thanks. His has to be the only name you can't misspell.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. OK, everybody, let's party likes it's 1789!!

Houël, The Storming of the Bastille from Wikipedia (Public Domain)


DOWN WITH TYRANNY!!

Whether it be fascist, Communist or corporatist

I'm talking to you, David Koch . . . and you, Scott Walker . . . and let's not forget John Boehner over there . . .

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!

[Warpy]

4. I've zeroed in on a couple of rumor mill people who are there

and apparently listening to a canned speech by Fearless Leader right now and posting it translated into English and French. The translations agree, so I suspect it's actually happening. The comments are pretty funny, anyway.

It's after 2 AM there and the heavy firing has quieted down. It might begin anew when Fearless Leader shuts up, who knows?

Oh, and the English poster has decided the flunky on the state TV station needs to be named Tripoli Tom in the great tradition of newscasting veracity from areas where wars are going on.

[pinboy3niner]

5. He 'timestamped' it

According to Al Jazeera, Gaddafi said in the audio broadcast:

He said he expected the opposition to claim his message was pre-recorded:

"They will say this message is recorded ... It's Sunday, the 21st of August. Time is 1:37 Libya time."

Sounds like pretty good proof...if it was Gaddafi speaking. :)

[TheWraith]

6. Not so great, really.

Record a speech at noon.

Five minutes in, say "it's 1:37 AM."

Start playing the "emergency address" at 1:32 AM.

Not saying it's definitely fake, but there's a reason the traditional time-stamp on a video is to hold up the newest newspaper you've got.

[Warpy]

7. Both posters said his clock was wrong by several minutes

and that the speech had a hangup sound at the end, indicating it was made via land line telephone.

Personally, I think they're going to have to find him and kill him if they want to get rid of him. He doesn't strike me as anyone who'd save his own skin and live in exile.

His sons might feel a bit differently and skedaddle.

However, at this point, nobody knows what's really going on except there is fighting around the city.

[piedmont]

8. I make no claims on being a propaganda expert but...

isn't it fairly easy to record a statement, say the time and date in the recording, and then have one's flunkies broadcast the recording at that time? And for that matter, couldn't he just phone it in from anywhere?

[WhiteTara]

9. Do you think we will have an outcome

from October 6?

I want to be there very much but I am concerned about about my business as I am it!

[hifiguy]

10. If true, game over.

I wonder where Gaddaffi Duck and his worthless, piece of shit sons are headed. If I had to bet, Saudi Arabia would by my first choice. Those pigs will take any scumbucket in, viz Idi Amin.

[moksha]

11. SA would be my bet, although I read Tunisia as well.

[UTUSN]

12. At least the wingnut media will be forced to stop yakking abt the President's vacation. n/t

[Prometheus Bound]

13. I heard a rumour Qaddafi defected to the rebels.

[applegrove]

14. Oh I hope it is so. Less bloodshed.

[LadyLeigh]

15. Let's hope that its more than rumors. But the interesting question is what happens to black africans

once this is all over.